Booklist Review
In Regency England there were very few career options open to a woman with a ruined reputation. Disowned by her family after she ran off with her brother's fencing master, Sarah Brereton returns to England, takes Tolerance as her new last name, and becomes an "agent of inquiry." Hired to find an antique Italian fan, Sarah traces the fan through several owners, but her quest seems to cause the murders of several innocent people. After discovering that the earl of Versellion, Edward Folle, is really the man who hired her, both Sarah and the earl become the target of the killers when the seemingly harmless fan's secret is revealed to be quite dangerous. Robins plays a bit with history, but she effortlessly captures the texture of both the elegant realm of London's aristocrats and the far less glamorous world of those who serve them. As skilled with a sword as she is at uncovering secrets, Sarah is a fascinating heroine, and Robins surrounds her with equally intriguing secondary characters. Politics, deception, danger, and a bit of romance all come together beautifully in this superb debut. JohnCharles.
Library Journal Review
Miss Sarah Tolerance is a Fallen Woman. Kicked out of her father's home after eloping with her brother's fencing tutor, she's given three choices by Regency society: run a brothel, become a mistress or prostitute, or make hats. Miss Tolerance opts for none of the above, scandalizing Society even further by becoming an investigative agent who prefers men's clothing. Hired for a deceptively easy task, locating a jeweled fan, Miss Tolerance soon finds herself embroiled in many levels of intrigue, not to mention repeated attempts on her life. Robins, whose previous works include The Stone War (a modern urban fantasy) and Daredevil: The Cutting Edge (based on a Marvel Comics superhero), puts the same traits of bravery, loyalty, and resourcefulness into this 19th-century private eye. Miss Tolerance sees herself as the protector of everyone around her-old or young, rich or poor, male or female. She doesn't hesitate to jump into the middle of a fight and make right prevail with her skillful swordsmanship. Although Robins has, by her own admission, taken occasional liberty with historical detail, it does not detract from the story, although it might drive some purist fans of the traditional Regency to distraction. One hopes that this is the first of many books about this hard-boiled, soft-hearted Fallen Woman. Highly recommended for libraries of all sizes.-Shelley Mosley, Glendale P.L., AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.